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(11)

EP 1 392 884 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 03.03.2004 Bulletin 2004/10 (21) Application number: 02776556.9 (22) Date of filing: 08.05.2002

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: C23C 14/34, B23K 28/00, B23K 33/00 (86) International application number: PCT/US2002/014302 (87) International publication number: WO 2002/099157 (12.12.2002 Gazette 2002/50)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK RO SI (30) Priority: 30.05.2001 US 870164 (71) Applicant: Praxair S.T. Technology, Inc. North Haven, CT 06473 (US)	(72) Inventors: HUNT, Thomas, J. Peekskill, NY 10566 (US) KOENIGSMANN, Holger, J. Congers, NY 10920 (US) GILMAN, Paul, S. Suffern, NY 10901 (US) (74) Representative: Schwan - Schwan - Schorer  PatentanwälteBauerstrasse 22 80796 München 80796 München (DE)